Senior Director of Programs - Covenant House Alaska

Position Summary 

The Senior Director of Programs provides leadership and development of Covenant House Alaska’s (CHA) programs, identified service delivery, and works to ensure a high-quality and sustainable program development. The Senior Director reports to the Chief Program Officer and works to ensure the safe, efficient, and sustainable operations of the organization. 

Authority and Responsibilities 

In partnership with the CHA Executive Leadership Team, the Sr. Director will serve as a collaborator and a trusted partner to the Directors Team and a think partner to the Executive Leadership Team. The Senior Director maintains authority to make resource allocations within their approved budget and workforce decisions within regulatory standards. 

Essential Functions 

• Collaborates with key stakeholders in the implementation of strategic planning. 

• Collaborates with budget development and monitoring within areas of responsibility. 

• Establishes Key Process Indicators (KPIs) to measure and monitor operational goals and objectives. 

• Develop and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with key outside colleagues, community partners, and other strategic external partners. 

• Directly manage the recruitment, management, and retention of committed and quality workforce within assigned department/program(s). 

• Participates in enterprise risk management. 

• Creates an environment of constant improvement that encourages new ideas. 

• Actively participates in public communications and advocacy as needed. 

• Actively engages on a professional development work plan. 

Authority and Responsibilities 

• Supports and directs assigned strategic planning and performance management activities for CHA. 

• Identifies areas for process improvement and innovation and works with the Executive Leadership and Directors Team for implementation. 

• Seeks out best practices and partner relationships that will improve outcomes, care delivery, and processes. Translates innovative, proven processes and services into repeatable methodologies to generate added value. 

• Demonstrate knowledge and intuition of current and future organizational needs, challenges and opportunities and the ability to capitalize and/or mitigate issues accordingly. 

• Represent CHA at community-based engagement events, special events, meetings or community council/taskforces.  

Personnel Management and Position Accountability 

• Provide direct supervision to assigned staff. 

• Oversee the Program Managers Meeting. 

• Schedule and host Program Director Meetings. 

• Participate in the development or revisions of Agency policies and procedures. 

• Act as the agency liaison for CHA with other service providers. 

• Serve on and act as a member of the Director Leadership Team, Policy Magistrate, Board of Directors meetings and any other identified Agency meeting. 

• Interview, hire evaluate, and oversee discipline of staff. 

• Maintain a high level of ethical standards while complying with all Agency policies and procedures. 

• At all times, keep supervisor fully informed. 

• Perform other duties as assigned. 

Finance & Budget Management 

• In partnership with the CPO, participate in the development of the budget for assigned programs and understand impact of strategic initiatives on Agency budget. 

• Control expenditures in accordance with budget allocations and CHA policies and procedures. 

• As appropriate, attend monthly budget management meetings. 

• Oversee the assignment of grant reporting duties amongst the directors and approve the reports 

• Review budget and program modifications to ensure grant expectations are met. 

• Serve as a secondary point-of-contact for grants as needed and support grant audit preparation. 

Supervisory Accountabilities 

This position is accountable for all management related responsibilities and oversight for assigned program position(s).   

Minimum Education 

Bachelor’s degree in human services, Social Work, Psychology, Public Administration or similar field required. Experience can substitute for post-secondary experience on a year-for-year basis. 

Minimum Experience 

Five years of senior administrative and management experience preferred. Lived experience of homelessness considered an asset 

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required 

• Basic understanding of adolescent development and behaviors; demonstrate enjoyment of and ability to relate to at-risk youth and demonstrates empathy with the joys and pains of others. 

• Strong ability to relate effectively with staff, youth, and community agencies. 

• Is approachable, builds rapport well and practices attentive and active listening. 

• Knowledge of adolescent development, family dynamics, crisis intervention. 

• Critical thinking and problem-solving skills are needed, along with the ability to make quick decisions. Able to make good decisions consistently based upon a mixture of analysis, wisdom, experience, and judgment.  

• Proficiency giving presentations, making public speaking an important asset. 

• Learn and stay current on computer operating systems, databases and platforms used by the Agency. Microsoft Office, Smartsheet, ETO 

• Ability to address conflict well and manage difficult youth in a supportive, non-threatening manner; Able to respond quickly and safely and is a settling influence in crisis situations and emergencies. 

• Ability to work with people of varied cultural backgrounds and tolerate differences in behavior. 

• Support equal and fair treatment and opportunity for all; tolerant of people and processes. 

• Ability to work independently, using good judgment, and common sense. 

• Maintain confidentiality and present the straightforward truth. 

• Self-motivation, initiative and commitment to ongoing learning are essential. 

• Excellent oral and written, communication skills including organizational skills and attention to detail. 

• Ability to prioritize multiple tasks. 

• Ability to adjust schedule to support program needs, deadlines, or special circumstances which may include working or being available by phone outside of normal business hours, and Holidays and/or weekends as needed. 

• Possess a current state of Alaska Driving License. 

• Acceptable driving record assessed through CHA’s Drivers Acceptability Matrix 

• Pass federal, state, and local background investigation. 

Working Conditions 

• Position is established in an office setting within the Youth Engagement Center  

• Noise level is mild to moderate, consistent with office and residential environments.  

• Must have the ability to communicate information and ideas so others will understand. Must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations. 

• Must have the ability to observe details within close range. 

• Must be able to remain in stationary position for extended periods of time.  

• Must be able to move within the office to access files and office equipment.  

• Consistently operates a computer and related office machinery. 

• Must be able to ascend/descend stairways in case of emergency to exit building safely. 

Covenant House is an Equal Opportunity Employer